School has many new shoes to fill

The regularly scheduled board meeting proceeded with business as usual. The board had positive comments for the wrapping up of the speech season as well as the FFA and FCCLA state entrants. Congratulations to all State contestants. The agenda and minutes from the March 15 meeting and the special April 5 meeting were approved.
The special board meeting was a discussion on how to fill the vacancies in the administration positions of superintendent and high school principal. It was decided that the board needed to act as quickly as possible in order to have quality candidates for these positions.
The bills from March and April were approved so payment would take place on April 20, 2022.
The enrollment for March remained steady with a total of 521 students. The activity fund was reviewed. This is the time of the year for most of the expenditures from these accounts and that is true again this year.
The seniors have gone on their trip, and it was deemed a success by all involved. FFA and FCCLA have had their State event which is their big expense for the year.
Principal Jeremy Frie gave the high school report. State testing is underway in the high school and is going smoothly. A special thanks to Barb Knutson for coordinating and preparing everyone involved for the testing process. The senior awards event was another successful event with many seniors receiving financial assistance for their post-secondary career.
Matt Buysse held a welding presentation at this meeting which shows the need for updated equipment especially with the new welding course through MN West being offered next fall.
The consent agenda passed. A quote for welding equipment for next year and beyond from American Welding & Gas, Inc. was accepted. The cost for this equipment will be approximately $48,000. This equipment is necessary for the welding course to be taught through MN West. This course will entitle Minneota students to walk out of a high school with a welding certificate.
There are eight kindergarten students open enrolling for 2022-23 as well as one second grader. The device handbook was approved for 22-23.
Cari Pohlen’s resignation as athletic/activities director was accepted. Barb Knutson resigned as COVID coordinator. Head boys’ basketball coach, Dave Busselman, was non-renewed for 22-23. Sienna Mahan-Deitte will be working as a part-time paraprofessional for the remainder of this school year.
In the personnel area of new business, Matt Myhre was hired as a fourth grade teacher for next school year. Superintendent Dan Deitte’s and Jeremy Frie’s resignations were accepted with many thanks for their years of service to ISD #414. Tenure was granted to Carolyn Bot, Bryce Jeppesen, Angela Lauer, Korin Koch, Tiffany Johnson, and Matt Buysse. Congratulations to each of them.
The school calendar for 2022-2023 was approved. Type 3 transport of students with 4.0 Bus Service was approved at a rate of $225 per day.
A contract for cybersecurity services with SW/WC Service Coop was agreed to at an annual cost of $10,94.40. This a five-year contract.
There will be several special board meetings due to filling the administrative positions. One was held on April 26, 2022, and the next one is May 2, 2022. They will begin at 6 p.m. The next regular board meeting is May 17, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. in the conference room.

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The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492